Band of Brothers

Easy Company, 506th Airborne Division, U.S. Army, was as good a rifle company as any in the world....

You HAVE to pick the Unabridged version

By
David
on
09-22-12

Beyond Band of Brothers

The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters

By:
Dick Winters,
Cole C. Kingseed

Narrated by:
Tom Weiner

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Unabridged

Overall

1,502

Performance

1,069

Story

1,061

They were called Easy Company, but their mission was never easy....

Not a repeat of Ambrose writings

By
Anonymous User
on
05-10-09

The Supreme Commander

The War Years of Dwight D. Eisenhower

By:
Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by:
Richard Ferrone

Length: 32 hrs and 54 mins

Unabridged

Overall

206

Performance

192

Story

191

In this classic portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower the soldier, best-selling historian Stephen E. Ambrose examines the Allied commander's leadership during World War II....

If you love military history... this.

By
officerdicky
on
12-25-16

The Wild Blue

The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany

By:
Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by:
Jeffrey DeMunn

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Unabridged

Overall

320

Performance

269

Story

270

The very young men who flew the B24s over Germany in World War II against terrible odds were an exemplary band of brothers....

Terrific book.

By
jud
on
02-09-12

No Man’s Land

1918, the Last Year of the Great War

By:
John Toland

Narrated by:
Grover Gardner

Length: 24 hrs and 43 mins

Unabridged

Overall

31

Performance

28

Story

28

From freezing infantrymen huddled in trenches to intricate political maneuvering in European capitals, noted historian John Toland tells of the unforgettable final year of the First World War....

Excellent narrator for WWI book

By
M. W.
on
12-12-17

The Battle of Britain

Five Months That Changed History; May-October 1940

By:
James Holland

Narrated by:
Shaun Grindell

Length: 26 hrs and 39 mins

Unabridged

Overall

57

Performance

53

Story

53

The Battle of Britain paints a stirring picture of an extraordinary summer when the fate of the world hung by a thread....

The battle up to The Battle of Britain

By
Chiefkent
on
11-07-17

The Pacific

By:
Hugh Ambrose

Narrated by:
Mike Chamberlain

Length: 23 hrs and 58 mins

Unabridged

Overall

398

Performance

241

Story

241

In The Pacific, Hugh Ambrose focuses on the real-life stories of the five men who put their lives on the line for our country during World War II....

Big let down

By
Howard
on
03-28-10

D DAY Through German Eyes

The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944

By:
Holger Eckhertz

Narrated by:
P. J. Ochlan

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Unabridged

Overall

840

Performance

728

Story

729

We see a perspective of D-Day which deserves to be added to the historical record, in which ordinary German troops struggled to make sense of the onslaught that was facing them....

A work of fiction

By
John Lindsey
on
05-22-16

Pegasus Bridge

By:
Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by:
Arthur Morey

Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins

Unabridged

Overall

40

Performance

36

Story

35

In the early hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe....

Great story told in greater detal

By
Amazon Customer
on
08-16-17

Undaunted Courage

By:
Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by:
Barrett Whitener

Length: 21 hrs and 40 mins

Unabridged

Overall

2,369

Performance

1,602

Story

1,603

Meriwether Lewis and his partner, William Clark, endured incredible hardships and witnessed astounding sights on their 1803 cross-country trip to unexplored West....

Great detail about this historical event...

By
Christopher
on
05-03-03

Easy Company Soldier

The Legendary Battles of a Sergeant from WW II's 'Band of Brothers'

By:
Don Malarkey,
Bob Welch

Narrated by:
John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Unabridged

Overall

287

Performance

192

Story

193

Sgt. Don Malarkey takes us not only into the battles fought from Normandy to Germany, but into the heart and mind of a soldier....

Solid American Greatness

By
David Ewing
on
09-28-10

Crazy Horse and Custer

The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors

By:
Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by:
Richard Ferrone

Length: 20 hrs and 33 mins

Unabridged

Overall

125

Performance

118

Story

116

On the sparkling morning of June 25, 1876, 611 men of the US 7th Cavalry rode toward the banks of the Little Bighorn in the Montana Territory, where 3,000 Indians stood waiting for battle....

Excellent history

By
A
on
11-12-17

The Story of World War II

By:
Donald L. Miller,
Henry Steele Commager

Narrated by:
Michael Kramer

Length: 24 hrs and 58 mins

Unabridged

Overall

1,461

Performance

1,346

Story

1,339

Drawing on previously unpublished eyewitness accounts, prizewinning historian Donald L. Miller has written what critics are calling one of the most powerful accounts of warfare ever published....

Amazing Inspiring Thought Provoking

By
The Zombie Specialist
on
06-01-14

Panzer Commander

The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck

By:
Hans von Luck,
Stephen E. Ambrose (introduction)

Narrated by:
Bronson Pinchot

Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins

Unabridged

Overall

1,626

Performance

1,514

Story

1,513

A stunning look at World War II from the other side.... From the turret of a German tank, Colonel Hans von Luck commanded Rommel's 7th and then 21st Panzer Division....

A compelling look into WW2 from the "other" side

By
A Texan 2
on
09-15-14

Masters of the Air

America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany

By:
Donald L. Miller

Narrated by:
Robertson Dean

Length: 25 hrs and 20 mins

Unabridged

Overall

1,166

Performance

1,056

Story

1,056

This is the dramatic story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep....

Facts and Emotions Masterfully Combined

By
Olaf
on
01-05-12

Helmet for My Pillow

From Parris Island to the Pacific: A Young Marine's Stirring Account of Combat in World War II

By:
Robert Leckie

Narrated by:
James Badge Dale,
Tom Hanks (introduction)

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Unabridged

Overall

2,189

Performance

1,999

Story

2,001

The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed....

Engaging Account of the War in “The Pacific”

By
Aaron
on
08-13-14

With the Old Breed

At Peleliu and Okinawa

By:
E. B. Sledge

Narrated by:
Marc Vietor,
Joe Mazzello,
Tom Hanks (introduction)

Length: 13 hrs and 57 mins

Unabridged

Overall

2,835

Performance

2,590

Story

2,582

The celebrated 2010 HBO miniseries The Pacific, winner of eight Emmy Awards, was based on two classic books about the War in the Pacific, Helmet for My Pillow and With The Old Breed....

This is the second audio book of Sledge's work

By
Richard
on
10-21-13

Publisher's Summary

Stephen E. Ambrose draws from hundreds of interviews with US Army veterans and the brave Allied soldiers who fought alongside them to create this exceptional account of the day that shaped the twentieth century. D-Day is above all the epic story of men at the most demanding moment of their existence, when the horrors, complexities and triumphs of life are laid bare and courage and heroism come to the fore.

Critic Reviews

"D-Day is mostly about people, but goes even further in evoking the horror, the endurance, the daring and indeed, the human failings at Omaha Beach... Outstanding." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Packed with drama and information, never losing sight of the horrors of combat, Ambrose's D-Day is the best book yet on what many historians consider to be the most important day of the twentieth century." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Story

This is an awesome story about the greatest day

Where does D-Day rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book really exposes the greatness of that generation. I fear to say that if we had such a large issue arise today we would not have the numbers of people who would risk it all to deal with the issue.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the detail of the things that went wrong and how those men dealt with the issues, and drove on to complete their mission.

What does Jesse Boggs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jesse Boggs read this story in a way that I really think did justice to Ambrose. It almost made me think that Ambrose was reading it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I learned something

No. I have been listening to audio books for at least 25 years and I have never listened to a book twice. I'm not going to start now.

What was one of the most memorable moments of D-Day?

I have read a variety of accounts of D-Day including several books but Ambrose was the first to tell the story of the destroyers which followed our soldiers to Omaha Beach and laid down five inch fire using the targets of the few tanks that made it ashore as guides for fire missions. In the Ambrose version, had one destroyer captain not seized the opportunity to move as close to shore as possible and lay down fire on the German gun emplacements our infantry may never have penetrated the shingle, the sea wall and the the German defenses. As a result of that captain's leadership four or five more destroyers fell in behind his ship and lay down covering fire and fire on specific objectives all without the use of one beach to ship radio. All the radio equipment carried on shore by the infantry had died by drowning in the surf. The Navy watched at first in horror and then one man reacted changing the entire situation. One whale of a story.

Which scene was your favorite?

The Omaha Beach destroyers without doubt.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I don't think I understood just how ill General Teddy Roosevelt was. Ambrose makes him a character more than a great warrior. Nonetheless he walked with his cane all over Utah Beach organizing some and encouraging a lot without regard for enemy fire. As a result Omar Bradley when asked what courage was said, something to the effect, "Courage was Ted Roosevelt on Utah Beach."

What an epic story what great men

This is a book over 20 hours long but you could listen to it in one go. It is fantastic. The audible personal histories that a place and the right sections of the book add to the human side of the battle. By the end you know all the beaches, the French towns, the generals and some of the men. You get the overall picture of what happen, why, when and how. The analysis is good and you don't need visual aids to help you with maps, equipment, man power and the like. A well told story, entertaining and interesting. Worth the listen to if only to honour the men who died fighting this battle.Thank god for the yanks, Canadians, Brits and Free French who fought their way into Fortress Europa. Not to forget the non combatants, other nationalities and poor Eastern European conscripts. The story tells it all.

SO MUCH HORRIFIC SACRIFICE

While all the facts seam here and Ambrose is a great historian something is missing which would put this in 5 star company. Pickiness aside, this is a remarkable achievement which needs and deserves to be read by all. The mind boggling gargantuan scale and risk of this one shot offensive mission stretches both your imagination and your nerves. The number of men and tanks that went off the landing craft to certain death by drowning in deep water was one of the hardest things to read about. So many suffered and died with a courage that is unimaginable in our time. A fascinating read that redefines our world and all the things we take for granted.

Fantastic History

I've read a lot of books on World War II...too many for me to count. I had family in the War and have always been fascinated by the incredible effort and bravery that went into saving the world from the dictators. I decided to listen to this book in advance of a visit to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans to both broaden and refresh my knowledge. I am really glad that I did. Professor Ambrose is a fantastic storyteller, and it does not get much better than this when it comes to a pure history book. He does a masterful job of mixing hard facts with anecdotal stories. I am really glad that I listened to this before going to the museum. Incidentally, if you like World War II history, I highly recommend a visit to the museum. I've been to a lot of great museums (my idea of a good vacation), and I can say that the World War II Museum is truly one of the best that I have ever seen. Be sure to book two days because you can't truly see it all in one.

Great

Great book

Ambrose is able to convey the same message that my grandfather believed in. We where their to preserve our free way of live and every member of the generation was with them

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michael

01-08-17

Very little about the British and Canadians

This was a great audio book and very informative although it was mainly about the yanks! There wasn't much said about the British and Canadian beaches

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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M.

12-14-13

D-Day the soldiers view

What made the experience of listening to D-Day the most enjoyable?

Ambrose captured the solider on the ground. Both the chaos and utter horror of that fateful day. Along side the Assault teams, he also shows the struggle in the higher levels of leadership.

What did you like best about this story?

For me the most striking aspect was the sheer bravery of men thrust into and life or death struggle. The chaos of the landing, the paralysing fear and the courage to face one's fears deeply humbled me.

What about Jesse Boggs’s performance did you like?

Jesse performs a well read book.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Of all my emotions, the most profound is the humbly awareness that these men faced the hell of those beaches to secure the freedom I now enjoy. Thank God for such a generation of men and women.

Any additional comments?

A book well worth the price.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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Douglas

05-12-17

Superb

Amazing detailed and easily listened to account of everything that lead up to and occurred on June 6th. Truly awesome.

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Dan Evans

12-03-16

Excellent..

Personal views of many soldiers brought together fantastically. Thousands who should never be forgotten. A must read / listen.

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Mark Gallagher

03-05-16

Compelling insight

An enormously impressive achievement, relating the story of DDay in a way that cannot fail to hold the reader's attention. All the detail laid out before you with anecdotes and eye witness accounts drawn from the oral histories and memoires of those involved. Naturally this book is America-centric, which is understandable given the author's background and the focus on the Omaha & Pont du Hoc assaults. A pity the narrator has so many basic pronunciations wrong in relation to the English towns, bases and counties - a surprising miss in an otherwise great audio book.

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Kdl

05-29-15

Detailed witness account

I have always been interested in the D Day landings and have visited the beaches and villages that were caught up with the events in June 1944. To hear the accounts and experiences and to know the names of those who took part opens up a completely new layer of fascination and interest. Amazing book - I have listened to it twice already.

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Peter

04-04-15

Top author

A bit biased towards the Americans but good nonetheless. Well researched but could have talked to French and German soldiers as well.

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Eddie

11-11-14

Harrowing and fascinating

What did you like most about D-Day?

A brilliant book by Stephen Ambrose that covers the full story of that fateful day. Whilst writing primarily of the American involvement he also gives full detail of the Canadians on Juno Beach and the British on Sword and Gold Beaches. His descriptions of the Airborne and Glider landings for the British and Americans had me reading continuously. The narrator was excellent.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read for anyone considering visiting the D Day beaches.

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Mrs

12-01-13

Informative and interesting.

Found this book to be extremely informative and it always maintained my interest. A must read if you want to know a little more about D Day.

The narrator did a good job too.

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Wolfpack

04-01-16

Thorough account

A thorough and well-researched account. Pleased that it covered all the national armies involved, not just the US. Occasionally seemed a bit repetitive.

The narrator occaisonally mispronounced British words. The book contained some strong language. Some quite graphic and horrific scenes were described.

Overall, I got what I wanted from this book, which was to know and understand something of what actually happened that day. A very sobering account of the bravery of so many.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

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V. Christoforou

06-28-17

Harrowing & Awe-inspiring

Where does D-Day rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'm a history buff, predominantly historical conflicts and therefore this was of great interest to me. The book was very much along the lines of what I expected. Ambrose is very well researched and can illustrate a scene very vividly. He also brings in a lot of first-hand testimony which is a major plus, to hear the perspective of someone who was actually there. Very often, as we have come to expect from war vets, its quite understated and matter of facts, completely dismissive of the harrowing experiences they were placed in and the incredible feats of bravery they undertook. <br/><br/>All in all it was a great read and I would recommend to anyone interested in WW2 history.

What was one of the most memorable moments of D-Day?

The Omaha beach landing was and its portrayal in the stark terms of the veterans who were there and in their deeds as reported by Ambrose and even the Germans themselves was a real eye-opener and gives you an even greater appreciation for the ordeal.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator was mostly OK but at times I thought was a bit too monotone and could get a little difficult to follow.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book should if nothing else allow the reader to reflect on the nature of sacrifice and the human condition that is war. It is emotional at times but ultimately factual in nature.

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Dave Vane

11-22-16

A great story with occasional irritations

A well researched and generally very enjoyable book with a great deal of detail about how troops were armed, provisioned and led. Individual's accouts are fascinating. Personal insights lift this above a dull history book.

However, the author's apparently poor opinion of the average English solider is evident on many occasions.

Also the mispronunciation of English place names by the narrator became quite annoying and detracted from the overall enjoyment of the book.